Cleveland, Ohio – A total of 29 repeat selections from last year’s All-MAC teams highlight this year’s postseason football awards in the Mid-American Conference. Western Michigan and Ohio, who face each other in Friday’s championship game tilt, swept specialty awards.

Western Michigan senior wide receiver Corey Davis was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year and Broncos Head Coach P.J. Fleck was named the MAC Head Coach of the Year, while Broncos junior kick returner Darius Phillips was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year.

Ohio senior defensive end Tarell Basham was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Bobcats freshman safety Javon Hagan was named MAC Freshman of the Year. In addition, Western Michigan senior quarterback Zach Terrell was tabbed as the winner of the 35th Vern Smith Leadership Award.

2016 MAC Specialty Award WinnersCoach of the Year: P.J. Fleck, Western MichiganOffensive Player of the Year: WR Corey Davis, Western MichiganDefensive Player of the Year: DE Tarell Basham, OhioSpecial Teams Player of the Year: KR Darius Phillips, Western MichiganFreshman of the Year: S Javon Hagan, OhioVern Smith Leadership Award Winner: QB Zach Terrell, Western Michigan

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green Falcons took a 20-3 lead less than seven minutes into the game and cruised to an 86-60 victory over Notre Dame College on Tuesday night at the Stroh Center.

Bowling Green has now had at least four players score in double figures over the team's three-game winning streak. The last time five Falcon players reached double figures in a contest was Jan. 12, 2016.

By Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.comMOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Marcus Keene was the name on the marquee, again.

Hard to argue with that. After all, a 36-point night from the nation’s leading scorer on his home court is bound to bring some notoriety.

Yet it was the how and the who that made game eight of the 2016-17 Central Michigan men’s basketball team’s season – a 91-81 nonconference victory Tuesday at McGuirk Arena over William & Mary – most gratifying.

Cardinals flirt with assist markMUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State Cardinals put on a display of unselfishness and ball movement Tuesday en route to a 92-52 win over IU Kokomo at Worthen Arena.

Senior guard Ryan Weber scored a game-high 24 points as the Cardinals opened up a six-game homestand. Freshman forward Tahjai Teague posted his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the route.

OMAHA, NE – For 20 minutes on Tuesday night, the Bufalo Bulls were primed to give the 10th ranked team in the country a scare, but the undefeated Creighton Blue Jays outscored the Bulls 52-33 in the second half, defeating Buffalo, 93-72.

Creighton got out to an early 15-6 lead in the contest, but the Bulls fought back as a three pointer by Blake Hamilton and three free throws from Willie Conner pulled Buffalo within a single possession, 15-12. The Blue Jays went . . .

By EVAN MEYERThe 2016 Marathon Mid-American Conference Championship game Friday night at Ford Field in Detroit sets up as an interesting match-up.

The Western Michigan Broncos completed their best regular season in school history going undefeated at 12-0, winning the Western Division for the first time since 2000. That halted a six-year domination of the division by Northern Illinois.

The Broncos active 14-game winning streak is second in the Football Bowl Subdivision to defending National Champion Alabama, and the Bronocs one of the most complete teams in all of College Football.

The Ohio University Bobcats, meanhile, won the Eastern Division crown for the first time since 2011. The ‘Cats enter the title game winning four of their last five games, thanks in no small part to one of the best defenses in the conference.

Neither team has won the championship game in their history, going a combined 0-5. In fact, it has been a long time – predating actual championship games -- since the two schools have won a MAC football title. WMU claimed the MAC trophy in 1988, while Ohio has not been on top since 1968.

Here is a look at the two teams meeting in the 20th anniversary of MAC title game play.

NASSAU, Bahamas (EMUEagles.com) -- For the first time since the 1987 season, the Eastern Michigan University football team is headed to a bowl game. The Eagles (7-5) have accepted an invitation to the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. Eastern will take on Conference USA opponent Old Dominion University Friday, Dec. 23, at 1 p.m. The game takes place at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas and will air live on ESPN.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to be selected to compete in the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl," remarked Vice President and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. "We are proud to represent the MAC and expect to finish our season strong. Our coaching staff and student-athletes have worked incredibly hard to be in a position to compete in the postseason and continue to build pride in the Block E. We are thankful for all of our loyal alumni, donors, fans and our university leadership for being committed to supporting our football program."

IMPORTANT NOTE: All U.S. citizens must have a valid U.S. passport to enter the Bahamas

This is EMU's second Division I bowl appearance in the history of the program. Eastern Michigan's last appearance in a bowl game was in 1987 when it traveled to Fresno, Calif. and defeated San Jose State University, 30-27, handing the Spartans their only loss of the season.

BOSTON –The Kent State Golden Flashes (4-3) dropped the final game of their nine-day road trip, falling to Northeastern (4-2), 73-70, Sunday.Jimmy Hall led the way for Kent State with a season-high 25 points on 11-for-14 shooting. He also led the Golden Flashes in rebounding for the seventh straight night with seven boards, going along with two assists, a block and a steal."I'm disappointed in how . . .

VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Ball State shot the ball better than Valparaiso and held a talented Crusaders offense in check for three quarters of Sunday's game, but the Cardinals could not protect the ball well enough to come away with a road victory.

Valpo outscored Ball State by nine points in the second half after trailing by three at the break and defended its home court with a 79-73 win at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

Publisher﻿

Mike Smith saw his first MAC footb﻿a﻿ll action as a nine-year-old while hanging onto the flagpole of a nearby baseball stadium. The view got better after he discovered he could get in free at halftime. Decades later, he can usually be found either on press row or along the sidelines.Mike has won awards for both his stories and pictures during his time in journalism. Combining his own skills with those of other writers and photographers, along with conference and school resources, he constantly works to provide an enjoyable MAC product.

ATTENTION WRITERS!MAC Reporter Online is seeking contributors for coverage at a number of Mid-American Conference schools.Several “levels” of participation are available for writers or photographers. For further information, contact Mike at: mro24mike@gmail.com.